Crosserlough come from six down to extend winning run

Senior Football Championship round 3

Crosserlough 2-18

Killygarry 2-10

Paul Fitzpatrick at Kingspan Breffni

Crosserlough extended their remarkable unbeaten run in the group stages of the Senior Championship to 14 matches as they came from seven points down in the first half to eventually win by eight at Kingspan Breffni.

The reigning county champions have not lost a group game in over three years - their last defeat was by a point to Cavan Gaels in round one in 2022. Since then, they have been flawless and although they received a scare here, trailing 1-3 to 0-0 in torrential rain, they never panicked and, springing Paddy Lynch, Peter Smith and Stephen Smith from the bench, powered away in the second half with the wind at their backs.

Killygarry were superb in the opening exchanges. Cian Reilly fed Conor Smith who clipped over the opener off his left before a foul on Darragh Gilsenan allowed Cian Keaney to double the lead.

Keaney then added a lovely strike from the right wing and when Conor Connolly pumped in a high ball that eluded Shane McManus and struck the butt of the post, teenager Thomas Gilsenan reacted quickest to barrel through and bury the rebound. With 12 minutes played it was 1-3 to 0-0 and Killygarry had their tails up.

Damien Keaney’s side then introduced county man Darragh Lovett for his first appearance in months after injury. Brandon Boylan finally got Crosserlough moving with a free but they remained out of sorts, missing chances including a straightforward Emmett Boylan free that dropped short.

David Shalvey eventually burst through to slot over and narrow the gap before Oisin Brady’s free made it 1-4 to 0-2.

Killygarry counter-attacked with pace and David Talbot capped a fine move with a score on the run but Crosserlough steadied when Matthew Costello landed a two-point free off the ground. But Killygarry struck again when, moments later, Oisin Brady tore through the middle, slipped a neat ball to Lovett and the county forward kept it on the carpet, finishing low to the net. Suddenly Killygarry were 2-5 to 0-4 ahead after 24 minutes.

Although Crosserlough looked vulnerable in defence, their attacking quality soon told. James Smith fired over and Emmett Boylan knocked over a brace of frees before the game’s turning point.

Just before half-time, Kieran Smith was fouled and Boylan converted; from the kick-out Crosserlough forced a turnover and Brandon Boylan scorched in from the left before rifling an unstoppable shot into the top corner. From seemingly nowhere, the gap was just a point, Killygarry 2-5 to 1-7 ahead at the interval.

That goal changed everything – it was as if all of Killygarry’s good work had been cancelled out. Within a minute of the restart James Smith levelled and almost immediately Dara McVeety, taking a pass on the loop, fired over to put the Lough in front for the first time. Keaney replied from a free but Crosserlough had their tails up and with the wind in their favour, they began to dominate possession. Emmett Boylan tapped over a free, James Smith drove through for another, and although Conor Smith landed two exceptional points in response for Killygarry, Crosserlough had seized control.

County star Paddy Lynch entered the fray and made an immediate impact. He converted a free, had a two-pointer, from clearly outside the arc, bizarrely marked as a single, and was winning kick-outs as well as scoring. James Smith powered through for another huge effort on 48 minutes to stretch the lead.

Killygarry still carried a threat and thought they should have had a penalty when Lovett was bundled over but referee John Emo waved play on. A melee broke out in the aftermath and after a long stoppage, Conor Smith drove over to leave it 1-13 to 2-9.

Lynch, though, pushed Crosserlough clear. A superb 50-metre free from the hands extended the margin before substitute Peter Smith sealed it. With two minutes of normal time left, Lynch’s free dropped short, Killygarry tried to break out but were turned over and Peter Smith pounced, dispossessing a defender volleying home soccer-style for Crosserlough’s second goal.

There was no way back for Killygarry. Lynch added another free, Stephen Smith fired over and although Conor Smith landed a brilliant reply via the upright, Crosserlough closed it out in style with Brandon Boylan completing the scoring.

For Killygarry, it was a brave effort and for 25 minutes they looked capable of pulling off a major shock. Conor Smith was outstanding in attack, while they worked hard around the field but they couldn’t sustain it against Crosserlough’s power and depth. Once the champions hit their stride, with Lynch and Brandon Boylan heavily influential and James Smith immense, the result felt inevitable.

Killygarry: Darragh Gilsenan; Conor Connolly, Anselm Lovett, Jamie McDonald; Thomas Gilsenan (1-0), Cian Reilly, Killian Reilly; Daniel Walsh, Darragh Kennedy; David Talbot (0-1), Cian Keaney (0-3, 2f), Mark McDermott; Ben Mooney, Conor Smith (0-5), Oisin Brady (0-1f)

Subs: Darragh Lovett (1-0) for M McDermott (13), Darragh Noonan for B Mooney (ht), Neil Reilly for D Talbot (46), Ryan Brady for T Gilsenan (54), Kevin Lovett for C Reilly (60).

Crosserlough: Shane McManus; David Shalvey (0-1), John Cooke, Fionn Lovett; Kieran Smith, Patrick O’Reilly, Brandon Boylan (1-2, 1f); Matthew Costello (0-2, 2ptf), Ryan Galligan; Emmett Boylan (0-4f), James Smith (0-4), Harry Boylan; Eoin Cusack, Dara McVeety (0-1), Oran Rehill.

Subs: Paddy Lynch (0-5, 2ptf, 3f) for R Galligan, Stephen Smith (0-1) for E Cusack (both 35), Peter Smith (1-0) for E Boylan (44), Cian Boylan for P Smith (temp, 54, reversed 57).

Ref: John Emo.